Life, 1928-04-26 · page 22 of 35
Life — April 26, 1928 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate humorous sketches satirizing early 20th-century American life: **"Approach"** mocks the modern office's endless stream of salesmen. The boss dismissively categorizes incoming "Smiths" by profession—life insurance, auto salesmen, and bootleggers (referencing Prohibition-era illegal alcohol). The punchline reveals he assumes "knickers" indicate a golfer, suggesting class assumptions about dress. **"Money Back If Not Satisfied"** lampoons women's materialism and frivolity. A woman's "penny for your thoughts" response—listing fashion choices, Princeton Prom attendance, male admirers—suggests women's minds fixate on superficial concerns, earning the man's sarcastic request for his penny back. **"A Take-Out Bid"** parodies marriage dissolution. A man proposing divorce frames it romantically, wanting to "elope" to avoid public scandal. The woman's delighted acceptance satirizes both marriage's fragility and women's supposed gullibility. The lower cartoon mocks male vanity: a man's "chest development" actually results from "patting himself on the back"—self-congratulation rather than fitness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Approach OFFIC E BOY: A Mr. Smith to u, sir. Boss: Find out which Smith it is. If it's Life-Insurance Smith, tell him I don't want any to-day. If it’s Auto-Salesman Smith, tell him the next installment on my car isn’t due for ten days. And if it’s Bootlegger Smith, tell him I've still got two quarts of the last lot and it’s rotten and I shall not order any more on any condition until it’s gone. What does this Smith look like, anyway? Boy: He's got on knickers, Boss: Why the first place? Golf Smith. (But it wasn’t. It was Life-In- surance Smith, getting in at last.) Bill Sykes. Show him in; that’s Money Back If Not Satisfied E: A penny for your thoughts, Sylvia. Sue: Well, I was just wondering whether to wear my black velvet or my new cloth of silver to the Prince- ton Prom next week, and how many cut-ins I'll get, and what the name of that boy is who gave me such a rush last night at the Club, and whether I ought to let my hair grow out, and- He: Give me back that penny. HEN there was the Scotchman who declined to attend a spiri- tualist séance for fear the messages might be collect. UZER | oI OFFICEHOURS | SHAM SoPM | A Take-Out Bid HE Girl smiled ever so slightly as she felt the Boy’s arm creep over her shoulder. “I’m glad I found you alone,” he was saying; “I've—I’ve—oh, hang it, Ma listen!) You know how much I care for you. You know how much our happiness means to me. W ill you—can you tell me——? es?” Her voice was appea questioning. “Look in my eyes,” he continued ; “T want you to tell me, to promise me that you'll—you'll divorce me.” “Oh, this is so sudden!” ng, She drew away, a frightened little smile on her lips. “I must have my answer to-night!” “But I must ask Mother.” “The devil with Mother! We'll make it an capement. Your mother would insist on a big court affair with reporters and all. Let's see the Judge in the morning. Come on, Marie, be a sport.” “Oh, Tom, you're such a dear. I really can’t refuse you.” “My darling! I knew you'd say ‘yes.’ And we'll be so happy.” Malcolm T, Waldron. Sue: Gracious! Just look at that man’s chest development. He: Chest development, nothing. He got that bulge from patting himself on the back. comicbooks.com